Snow-skate



.(No Model.) n 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. GONRADSON.

SNOW SKATE.

Patented May '1. 1888.

.////////V d c a t a ATTORNEY N PETERS. mmmm ra w. Washington an 2Shets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.) 8 r 8 f P. OONRADSON.

' SNOW SKATE. v

' Patented May 1, 1888.

INVENTOR 6254M). BY

UNITED STATES PONTUS GONRADSON, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATENT rrrcn.

SNOW-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382.254, dated May 1,1888.

Application filed March 9, 1887.

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, PONTUS OONRADSON, a citizen of Sweden, and aresident of Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snow-Skates, of which thefol' lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to snowshoes, or, more properly, snow-skates, suchas are used in Scandinavia as a means whereby a person may support andswiftly propel himself upon a surface of snow.

The invention comprises improvements whereby the skates may be foldedand packed in a small compass, and in the improvements of details ofconstruction, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specificallypointed out in the'claims, reference being had to the accompanying twosheets of drawings, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view of animproved skate according to my present invention,with the foot'strap insection. Fig. 2 is a view of the under side of the same. Fig. 3 is aside View. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are cross-sections, respectively, on thelines as w, 3 y, z z, w x of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 8 is a crosssection on the line 2 z of the skate, showing the brake applied. to it.Fig. 9 is an under side view of the brake. Fig. 10 is a crosssection ofthe same through the line 50 .70 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a top view of aportion of the skate, the

foot-plate,andthe foot-strap. Fig. 18 is a side view of the same withthe brake applied. 7 Fig. 12 is a side view of the lower end of the poleand scraper inverted. Fig. 13 is a cross-section of the same,taken onthe line a m of Fig.

12. 7 Fig. 14 is a similar section of a modification of the same. Fig.15 is a partial section on the line 12 o of Fig. 14. Figs. 16 and 17 areend views of the pole, looking in direction of arrows 1 and 2 in Figs.12 and 11, respectively. Fig. 19 is a cross-section on the line m w ofFig. 20, taken in thejoint of the two main sections of a skate made insections.

Fig. 20 is a top view of a portion of a skate made in sections, andshowing the metallic fastening by which the two parts are connectedtogether. Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section taken through the line 3/ ofFig. 20. Fig. 22 is a longitudinal section of'a portion of the pole,showing how the same may be Serial No. 230,244. (No model.)

same may be made in sub-sections hinged together.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

Like the old-fashioned Scandinavian snowskates, each skate A is made,preferably, of pine or ash, and has its front end, a, curved upward,somewhat in the manner of an ordinary sleigh-runner, provided underneathwith a groove, B. The body of the skate is not straight, but is slightlyarched in such a manner as to raise the center about an inch or two overthe level of the support at the ends. This causes the skate to act as asort of springboard, relieving the foot (which is held by the strap G)of the weight of the snow-skate the trifle necessary in locomotion.Instead of curving the front end only, as aforesaid, I make both ends aa of the skate curved in the fashion of a sleigh-runner. The object ofthis is to be able to utilize the skate again without repair in case, assometimes happens, the front end breaks off, in which case the strap 0is reversed and the end a is utilized as the front end.

The groove B, which heretofore invariably has been made throughout theentire length of the snow-skate, I make shallower toward the ends, andend it flush with the bottom of the skate, as shown in Fig. 2, at abouttwelve to fifteen inches from the end. By this construction the skateturns much easier than heretofore, thus facilitating the task of runningoff from a straight line into a lateral curve.

The strap '0, by which the foot is held, is preferably made of twopieces-of leather fastened by grasp-plates and screws to the oppo siteedges of the body A, said straps being con nected by a lace-string, c.18.) In order to prevent the foot from slipping out of the strap, (noheel-strap being used, as that would prevent the rapid removal of thefoot from the skate in case of danger,) 1 provide on the body Aa rubberplate, D, of the same width as the skate and about nine to twelve incheslong, which rubber plate is corrugated transversely at d, as shown inFigs. 1 and 11, so as to better prevent slipping.

The skates are generally about four inches (See Figs. 11 and edges atI), while the lower edges, b, of thegroove B are sharp or abrupt. Thisconstruction causes the skates to steer and run better. As heretoforemade a horizontal slot was made transversely through the body of theskate for the reception of the foot-strap. The said slot of coursetended greatly to weaken the skates,

and thus necessitated a thicker and conse-' quently much heavier skate;but by my presentstrap C the said objection is overcome, the same beingfastened to the sides, as aforesaid, and the width where the ends of thestrap are attached, j ust above the rounding b, is less than at thebottom of the skate, thereby preventing the straps from coming incontact with and presenting unnecessary friction against the surface ofthe snow upon which the skate slides.

The edges of the upper surface of the skate are rounded off throughoutthe whole length, as in Figs. 4 and 5, except where the foot-plate D issecured.

E is a brake, the object of which is to prevent the skates from slidingbackward when the snow-skater has to walk up steep inclines. For thispurpose the brake consists, preferably, of a thin metallic plate havinglongitudinal corrugations, as shown in Figs. 9 and 18, which, when thebrake is attached to. the skate, as in Fig. 18, run transversely of theskate. The brake is applied a-little in front or a little behind thefoot, and is provided.

with end pieces, e e, conforming to the edges of the skate. One of theend pieces, 6, is rigid with the corrugated plate F, while the otherend, e, is hinged thereto. A spiral spring, secured with one end to thestationary piece 6, is adapted to be hooked with its other end into aloop or hole through the hinged piece 0, so that all that is necessaryfor applying the brake to the snow-skate is simply to unhook the springfrom the hinged end piece, 6,

y then slip thebrake under the skate, as in Figs.

8 and 18, and then connect the end pieces, 6 e, above the skate by meansof the said spring 6 The upper surface of the corrugated plate F of thebrake E is provided with leather or rubber, f, (see Fig. 8,) for thepurpose of preventing the brake from slipping on the skate. If cast, thebrake-plate Fmay be made smooth on the inside and without the leather orrubber.

G is astaff or pole, which is an indispensable part of the snow-skatersequipment. As heretofore constructed this hada conical joint, and a fewinches above the joint a square or round wooden washer or disk severalinches in diameter. The object of this is to prevent the pole fromsinking too deeply in the snow when the pole is used to aid propulsion,as when the snow-skater is moving on a horizontal plane or up a smallincline, in which case the pole is used against the snow-surface to pushthe skater along.

I have ,provided the pole with a snow scraper or cleaner, to be used forremoving the snow from the corrugations of the rubber plate D and fromthe grooves and edges of the skates, &c.', as may be needed. Thisscraper or cleaner H consists of a fiat blade of metal, which maybeattached to the upper or the lower end of the pole. If attached to theupper end, I prefer to construct it as in Figs. 12 and 13, in which casethe blade is pivoted by a rivet, h, in a slot, h, of the pole, the slotbeing of suitable length to enable the blade H to be foldedin the slotin the manner of ablade in an ordinary pocket'knife. In Figs. 12 and 13the blade is shown as unfolded, held by a ferrule, I, tightly fittingthe end of thepole, and having an end slot, through which the bladeprojects. To fold the knife into the slot h, (see Fig. 13,) it is onlynecessary to pull off. the sleeve or ferrule I from the pole and theblade, then fold the blade into the slot h, and again replace theferrule I as a cap upon the pole end. If attached to the lower end ofthe pole, the blade H is riveted in two places to the pole and to theferrule I,

so as to be firm and not folding, and the ferrule is provided with afiange, t, for the purposes before stated. The blade thus acts as acombined spike and cleaner. The disk formed by the flange 2 servesanother important purpose-namely, to stop and moderate the speed of theskater by simply allowing the pole to drag behind him on the snow,pressing on it more or less as occasion mayrequire.

For convenience oftransportation, the pole may be made in two parts, asin Fig. 22, one end at the jointbeing provided with a socketed andthreaded ferrule, g, and the other with a ferrule, 9, having a threadednipple to fit the threads of the said socket.

For convenience of transportation, I make the skate itself of two partsor main sections detachable from each other, and, if necessary, one orboth of the said sections into sub-sections hinged together and foldingone upon the other. The device by which the two main sections aresecured together is shown in Figs. 19, 20, and 21. The two adjoiningsections are provided with metallic plates J J, having annular flangesembracing the ends of the said main sections at the joint, as plainlyshown in Fig. 21. On the edges of the upper surface these plates areprovided longitudinally with bores 7c, receiving steel bolts K. Each ofthese bolts is rigidly secured in one of the said plates, J, by a pin,l, or otherwise; and in order to connect the two main sections the otherprojecting ends of the bolts K are inserted in the bores 7c of the otherplate, J, in which they fit tightly, and are then secured by a screw, L,passing transversely through the bore and the bolt. The plates J J aresecured to the wooden part of the skates by screws, as in Figs. 20 and21, or in any other suitable manner. When one or both of the mainsections are made in sub-sections folding together, I prefer to join thesaid sub-sections by hinges M, as in Fig. 23. To each of thesub-sections is attached a bored or perforatedlug, m, and when thesubsections are unfolded for use a steel bolt, N, is driven through thesaid lugs m, as plainly shown in said Fig. 23.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, owing to the small scale, the joint and hinges arenot shown.

* Having thus described my invention,whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A snow-skate having underneath a continuous groove, B, with paralleledges throughout its length and gradually shallower toward its ends, andending flush with the surface of the skate at a distance from each endof the latter.

2. A snow-skate provided underneath with a continuous groove, B, havingabrupt edges 1), as specified.

3. A snow'skate having its side edges rounded off at b, and providedunderneath with a continuous groove, B, having abrupt edges 1), as setforth.

4. The combination ofa snow-skate having its sideedges roundedunderneath at b and narrower above the rounded portion, in combinationwith the foot-strap 0, made in two parts,

secured to the said narrower portion and connected by the lace c,substantially as described. 5. In combination with the snow-skate A andthe foot-strap O, the foot-plate D, provided jections or corrugations Fand adapted to be attached to theskate, substantially as specified.

7. In combination with a snow-skate, the brake E, provided on its underside with projections or corrugations F, a friction-covering, f, abovethe said corrugations,and having the rigid end piece, e, and the hingeden'd piece, 6, conforming to the edge of the skate,and aspring or strap,e, connecting the said pieces 6 6, substantially as specified.

8. A snow-skate made in two or more detachable sections, substantiallyas specified.

9. In a sn0w-skate made in detachable main sections, the snb-sectionsinterconnected by hinges M, to adapt them for folding together.

10. Asnow-skate made in two main sections provided with angular endplates, J J, one of the said plates, J, having secured to it a bolt, K,and the other plate, J, having a bore or socket, 7c, and a pin or screw,L, to receive and retain the said bolt for securing the two sectionstogether, substantially as specified.

11. In a skate madein sections, the subsection made in two parts, havinglugsn and connected by hinges M, in combination with a key or bolt, N,for securing the said subsections in the unfolded position,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 26th'day of February,

PONTUS GONRADSON. Witnesses: W. OTIs DUNBAR,

HENRY MILLHOLLAND.

